Free Garden Scavenger Hunt Printable For Kids

A garden scavenger hunt is a simple way to get kids outside and explore nature.

This free scavenger hunt printable features 15 garden-themed items to find, from bugs and tools to flowers and rocks—perfect for backyard fun or a walk around the neighborhood.

It’s an easy, screen-free way to keep kids engaged and curious about the world around them.

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Gardening Scavenger Hunt

This free scavenger hunt printable is a fun way to get kids outside and exploring.

Fresh air and a bit of adventure do wonders for their mental health—and it helps cut down on the “I’m bored!” complaints too.

You’ll find one printable page with 15 garden-themed items to search for. From butterflies to garden tools, there’s plenty to spot whether you’re in your backyard or out for a walk. Be sure to check your printer settings before printing.

This backyard scavenger hunt is free for personal use. Scroll to the bottom of the page and pop in your email address to grab the PDF.

Garden Items to Find

This is the list of items young gardeners will check off:

How to Play

You don’t need a garden to enjoy this! Take the hunt on a walk around the neighborhood, or hand it to the kids while you’re gardening—they might even pitch in.

For older kids, turn it into a photo scavenger hunt. Have them snap pictures of each item using a phone or camera.

All you really need is a pencil and a clipboard (we love the kind that stores pens and papers inside).

When we used this in our garden, Freddie spent a solid 20 minutes trying to figure out if the ants on our patio counted as part of an “animal’s home”—so of course, we had to Google it. It turned into a surprisingly fun little science chat!

Additional Outdoor Scavenger Hunts

If your kids love this garden scavenger hunt, there’s plenty more where that came from.

These nature scavenger hunts are great for weekends, holidays, or whenever you want to make getting outside a little more fun.

From butterfly spotting and Easter egg hunts to camping and beach adventures, there’s something for every season and interest.

Each printable is designed to spark curiosity and help kids connect with the natural world around them.

• Outdoor Easter egg hunt clues – Add some excitement to your garden with clever clues that turn any egg hunt into an adventure.
• Butterfly scavenger hunt printable – Help kids learn to spot different types of butterflies and signs of their habitat.
• Free camping scavenger hunt – Perfect for nature walks or family camping trips, this hunt includes fun outdoor finds.
• Tree scavenger hunt printable – Encourage kids to explore bark textures, leaves, and tree shapes on a nature walk.
• Energy and recycling scavenger hunt – Teach eco-awareness by having kids search for items related to sustainability and recycling.
• Neighborhood scavenger hunt – A great go-to for a casual walk around the block, keeping kids observant and active.
• Zoo scavenger hunt – Make zoo visits more interactive with a checklist of animals and habitats to find.
• Beach themed scavenger hunt – Turn a trip to the beach into a hands-on exploration of shells, seaweed, and more.

Books About Gardening for Kids

If your kids enjoy the garden themed scavenger hunt, these books are a great way to keep the curiosity going indoors.

Tree Full of Wonder follows a curious child through a magical garden, highlighting the beauty of the natural world in a way that’s both whimsical and meaningful.

Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt explores everything happening above and below the soil, giving younger children a deeper look at how gardens work—from bugs and roots to leaves and sunshine. It’s one we’ve read more than once.

Gardening for Kids takes a hands-on approach with fun STEAM activities that combine planting with learning. Perfect for kids who like to get their hands dirty and see how things grow.

Get the Free Printable Garden Scavenger Hunt Here!

Ready to grab your free printable? Just pop your name and email into the form below, and it’s all yours!

Life Cycle Worksheets for Garden Creatures

After the scavenger hunt, keep the learning going by exploring the life cycles of some of the creatures and plants your kids may have spotted. These life cycle worksheets are a great way to build on their curiosity:

• Butterfly life cycle worksheet
• Printable bee life cycle worksheet
• Ladybug life cycle worksheet
• Rabbit life cycle worksheets
• Hedgehog life cycle worksheets
• Life cycle of a frog worksheet
• Life cycle of an ant printables
• Life cycle of a plant worksheet

Last Updated on 10 April 2025 by Clare Brown